Plumb Challenges Incumbent Reed for Congressional Seat

Incumbent Tom Reed III (R,C,I,Reform) is being challenged by John Plumb (D, Working Families) for a congressional seat in the 23rd District.

Tom Reed

Reed first joined the U.S. House after winning a special election to replace Eric Massa in 2010. He had previously served one term as mayor of Corning.

He is banking on his experience to carry him to re-election.

Top among issues to focus on are jobs and the economy, Reed said. He has some direct influence over legislation that affects those concerns as a member of the House ways and means committee and co-chair of the Manufacturing Caucus.

The second top priority is national security and the fight against terrorism – areas he believes the Obama administration has failed.

John Plumb

Plumb was born in Jamestown and raised in the nearby small town of Randolph. He currently lives in the Jamestown area.

He is a fourth generation Western New Yorker who has spent the past two decades serving the country – first as a submarine officer in the U.S. Navy and later as an official at the Pentagon focused on Nuclear and Missile Defense Policy. He has been an officer in the U.S. Navy for 22 years, and continues to serve in the reserves today as a U.S. Navy captain. He also holds a PhD in aerospace engineering from the University of Colorado. He previously earned a U.S. Navy ROTC scholarship to the University of Notre Dame, graduating in 1992. The following year, he earned a master of science in physics from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Plumb has received numerous military and civilian public service awards for his service to our country including the Office of the Secretary of Defense Exceptional Public Service Award, Department of State Superior Honor Award, Secretary of Energy Achievement Award, Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Navy Achievement Medal and Navy Expeditionary Medal. In addition, he’s one of very few service members to receive the Arctic Service Ribbon for spending more than 28 days north of the Arctic Circle in his submarine, including under the ice. He qualified as an expert on pistol and sharpshooter on rifle.

“The Finger Lakes and the Southern Tier have been left behind for far too long by both DC and Albany,” he said. “I have a range of clear and specific policies for challenges unique to rural communities like ours: how to grow our rural economies, how to keep our promise to rural veterans, and how to end our opioid epidemic. You can find my policies online at www.johnplumbforcongress.com.”

He added, “Our Congress is broken – and it is time we fixed it. I’m running for Congress because we need a new representative who will put service to our working families first and be a champion for our rural communities.”